* 

 194 OXALIS, ETC. 



This genus is allied to Rhubarb. The Alpine Dock is superior in its 

 medical powers. 



R. acetosa dioecious, male and female flowers on seperate plants ; 

 leaves oblong, arrow-shaped ; flowers reddish, clustered. 



OXALIS, plurnieri, Wood Sorrel, C. 10. O. 4. Oxaliclese. sp. 72-15. 

 A. 1-2 ft. A species of the sorrel brought from Lima in 1832, where 

 its leaves are much used in salads, and medicinally for cooling and 

 purifying the blood. The root, which is bulbous, is now highly ex- 

 tolled, being more agreeable than the potato, the taste of which it re- 

 sembles. (See under head of tuberous roots.) In cookins, the tubers 

 are boiled 10 or 15 minutes, the water is drained oil', and they stand 

 in the sauce-pan a time to dry. The oxalis is of a peculiar shape and 

 color, and is believed to be very nutritious. Extensive orders are 

 now given for it to plant. It should be speedily introduced. It may 

 be cultivated like the potato. Its stalks are good, when green, for 

 cattle, and it is believed to possess many medicinal qualities. All of 

 the varieties are without leaves half the year. Some species only 

 have fleshy roots. The little bulbs are often very numerous. Some 

 have fusiform roots, and all are very anomalous and singular. All, too, 

 are more or less acrid, and some produce seeds, by which they are 

 propagated, or by offsets. They are grown in light sandy soil. The 

 O. acetosella is used as a salad plant, its acid resembling that of 

 Ihe lemon or tartar, and an infusion of the leaves is antiscorbutic, 

 refringerant, and diuretic, as is the plant in milk. This is given in 

 ardent fevers, as it allays inordinate heat and thirst. The expressed 

 juice affords an acid salt, used for removing moulds and ink stains, 

 under the name of oil of lemons ; but it is seldom genuine. The 

 stained part is dipped in water and the salt sprinkled on, then rubbed 

 on a heated plate, and washed in warm water. 20 pounds of fresh 

 leaves yield 6 pounds of juice, and 2 ounces of salt, on evapora- 

 tion and cooling. Wood Sorrel is indigenous to this country, and 

 abounds in woody places and borders. 



LOVAGE, ligusticam, livisticum, C. 5. 0. 2. Uinbelliferese, sp. 

 10-20. Dh. P. ft. 1-6. This is sometimes used as a pot-herb or salad 

 ingredient, and is considered a corrective and purgative. An infusion 

 of the leaves and roots, containing a fetid gum, used, as a purgative 

 to calves. The seeds are used by distillers for preparing a liquor 



called lovage. There are 7 species of lovage and 13 in the genus 



Leaves repeatedly compound ; stem 5 ft. high ; flowers small, yellow- 

 ish, in June. Italy. 



ANGELICA, archangelica, C. 5. O. 2. Umbellatse, sp. 6. B from 

 angelic, the roots and leaves being supposed to have extraordinary 

 virtues. A native of the N. of Europe and of this country ; it is pro- 

 pagated by seeds sown in August on moist soil, and transplanted when 

 6 inches high. The stalks were eaten as celery; but stalks and 



